Warthawg Military& Family Readiness

07/01/2025

From the moment the A-10 retirement decision was made, the 442d leadership team has proactively and aggressively pursued every avenue to secure a follow-on fighter mission, fighting to ensure the Wing's continued vital contribution to our national defense. While this complex process has unfortunately encountered unforeseen delays – creating understandable uncertainty – our commitment to answering our nation’s call has never wavered.

We need everyone – regardless of rank or affiliation – who is concerned about the future of the 442d Fighter Wing to take action now.

We have a concrete opportunity to secure our future:. Among other allies, the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) has developed a compelling plan to transition F-15Es, currently being replaced by newer aircraft, to Reserve units, specifically designating the 442d to receive these capable aircraft. This strategic move is not only essential for preserving the 442d, but crucial for maintaining vital combat experience and surge capacity within the entire Air Force.

This is where YOU play a critical role. We need your voice to make this happen.

Without a follow-on mission, experienced Reserve units like ours face potential dissolution, resulting in an loss of talent and critical readiness. We cannot allow this to happen.

As the only century-old, congressionally-chartered association exclusively focused on the Reserve component, the ROA’s advocacy is unmatched. They have been working tirelessly on our behalf at every level – from Missouri to Washington, DC – culminating in a formal resolution submitted to Congress and direct engagement with the President and Secretary of Defense in support of the 442d.

Your voice adds power to their efforts. By acting immediately, you will directly contribute to preserving our mission, ensuring the future of the 442d, and strengthening the Air Force Reserve. Help us maintain a mission-ready posture and build a stronger, more resilient Air Force!

Call to ActionJoin ROA's Minute Man Movement by persuading Congress to sustain the Air Force's combat readiness.Issue BackgroundIn June, ROA launched its campaign to sustain the Air Force's combat readiness.In a June 26 letter to ROA’s Air Force...

07/01/2025

America's 3.5-Second Miracle

Brian S. Wesbury, Chief Economist
Robert Stein, Deputy Chief Economist
Date: 6/30/2025

In 1852, Karl Marx said "Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered and transmitted from the past."

He obviously knew about the Magna Carta (1215) and the English Parliament’s Bill of Rights (1689), which created a separation of powers between the King and elected representatives. What he didn’t pay much attention to was how the United States broke with history and improved upon these documents with the Declaration of Independence and Constitution so well thought out that it has only been amended twenty-seven times in 235 years. Men and women can make their own history here. Karl Marx was wrong. No one puts it better than Ronald Reagan; the excerpt below comes directly from his Commencement Address at the University of Notre Dame back on May 17, 1981.

"This Nation was born when a band of men, the Founding Fathers, a group so unique we've never seen their like since, rose to such selfless heights. Lawyers, tradesmen, merchants, farmers – fifty-six men achieved security and standing in life but valued freedom more. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Sixteen of them gave their lives. Most gave their fortunes. All preserved their sacred honor.”

“They gave us more than a nation. They brought to all mankind for the first time the concept that man was born free, that each of us has inalienable rights, ours by the grace of God, and that government was created by us for our convenience, having only the powers that we choose to give it. This is the heritage that you're about to claim as you come out to join the society made up of those who have preceded you by a few years, or some of us by a great many.”

“This experiment in man's relation to man is a few years into its third century. Saying that may make it sound quite old. But let's look at it from another viewpoint or perspective. A few years ago, someone figured out that if you could condense the entire history of life on Earth into a motion picture that would run for 24 hours a day, 365 days – maybe on leap years we could have an intermission – this idea that is the United States wouldn't appear on the screen until 3.5 seconds before midnight on December 31st. And in those 3.5 seconds not only would a new concept of society come into being, a golden hope for all mankind, but more than half the activity, economic activity in world history, would take place on this continent. Free to express their genius, individual Americans, men and women, in 3.5 seconds, would perform such miracles of invention, construction, and production as the world had never seen.”

America has proven that men and women not only can make their own history, but they can make it as they please, with circumstances chosen by themselves. Happy 4th of July to you all. Let’s take time this week to step back and realize just how fortunate we are to live in a time and place where the fire of invention still burns hot, course corrections (however messy they may be) still take place, and the future remains bright. May we continue to honor the legacy of those who came before us by striving to uphold the principles that have made this country a beacon of hope and freedom for the world.

11/26/2024

As the holiday season approaches, we are excited to share an incredible opportunity for you to make a difference in our community! We are reaching out to invite you to volunteer with us for the Toys for Tots campaign.
Toys for Tots is dedicated to bringing joy and hope to children in need during the holiday season by providing them with new toys. This initiative relies on the generosity and support of volunteers like you to help us collect, sort, and distribute toys to those who need them most.
How You Can Help:
1. Sorting and Packing: Join us at our distribution center to help sort and pack toys for families in need.
2. Distribution: Help distribute toys to families during our holiday events.
Volunteer Details:
• Date(s): Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 12 pm (noon)
• Location: Toys for Tots Warehouse @ 727 N. Charles Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093
• Sign-Up: https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/10C0F45AFAA29A7F4C43-52985032-toys/136096758
• Whether you can spare a few hours or are available for a longer commitment, every bit of help counts! Together, we can ensure that no child goes without a gift this holiday season.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to spread joy and kindness.

11/04/2024

https://vaclaimsinsider.com/best-veterans-day-freebies/

Your definitive guide to the 150+ Best Veterans Day Freebies 2024 for veterans and active duty military personnel. Find your Veterans Day Free Meals.

10/22/2024

📣 At Stronghold, our headquarters is proudly located at Fort Leavenworth, but as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, our reach extends far beyond Kansas and Missouri. We provide vital support and relief to military families “whenever and wherever they are needed.” 🌎

In 2023, our founder and CEO, Monica Bassett, along with our CFO, Tim Selby, launched our Ambassador Program, a key initiative that embodies our mission to provide support with dignity and care on a global scale. 🧡

🤝 Thanks to incredible national sponsors like Newrez, Uncommon Grit Foundation, and Gary Sinise Foundation, who believe in our mission and programs, we were able to feed hundreds of military families in 13 states and 4 countries—and that number keeps growing!

Their unwavering support enabled us to create the Grateful Table - Thanksgiving Meal Campaign, delivering much-needed holiday meals to military families nationwide, personally handed out by our Ambassadors, from Hawaii to Texas, Virginia to California, and everywhere in between. This initiative addresses food insecurity felt across all service branches and installations. 🇺🇸

👏 We are beyond honored and excited to bring back our Grateful Table - Thanksgiving Meal Campaign this year, partnering once again with the fabulous Maria Reed from Moving with the Military. We are ready to bring connection, nourishment, and gratitude back to the family table this Thanksgiving.

👉 If you know of a military family stationed anywhere in the U.S. who could use our support this Thanksgiving, please share our this opportunity with them. Together, we can make lasting impact.

Thank you for believing in the Stronghold mission!

10/08/2024

Registration is now open for over 100 Operation Homefront's Holiday Meals for Military® events! 🍗🥧

Military Families, reserve your spot today, and let us help prepare you to gather with your loved ones around the table! View eligibility requirements and register here https://operationhomefront.org/events/

07/20/2024

Hello Homeschool Families,
My name is Janice Scott and I am the School Liaison for Whiteman AFB. I am organizing a Back 2 School Bash on August 1 from 5pm-7pm (open to EFMP families at 4 pm). Would anyone be interested in setting up a homeschool-themed table for families new to the area, new to homeschooling, or families looking to connect with other homeschool families? If you are interested or would like more information, feel free to email me at [email protected] or call me at 660-624-6348. Thank you! *Must have or be willing to obtain base access since the event will be at the Youth Center at Whiteman AFB.

07/18/2024

Join us, the Military and Family Readiness Center and the team on August 20, 2024, at the Whiteman Air Force Base Career Exploration and Hiring Fair where you will have the opportunity to meet, network, and interview with regional and national employers at this professional development and hiring event. All veterans, service members, military spouses, and caregivers are invited to attend!

Click here to: Register Now or Whiteman Air Force Base Career Exploration & Hiring Fair (brazenconnect.com)

It will be held at the Deployment Center, Whiteman AFB, MO.

This will be a great event for all (Active Duty, Military Spouses/Family Members, Retirees, DoD Civilian, and Guard/Reserve) who attend.

07/15/2024

The Air Force Aid Society Team are standing by to accept applications from members dealing with the aftermath from Tropical Storm Beryl and needing assistance. Members and families meeting the eligibility criteria below may request Air Force Aid Society assistance by applying online at https://portal.afas.org. An Application Quick-Start is attached to help guide eligible members and their families through the application process.

1. ELIGIBILITY.
a. Air Force and Space Force Active Duty and their eligible Family members.
b. Retired from Active Duty with 20 years or more of service and their eligible Family members.
c. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members, regardless of duty status, and their dependents.
d. Retired Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve receiving retired pay and their Family members.
e. Medically Retired Air Force and Space Force members and their dependents, including those placed on the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) or Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL).
f. Surviving Spouses and Children of members who died while on Active Duty (including those on Title 10 Orders) or in an eligible Retired status.

2. GENERAL GUIDELINES.
a. Assistance for basic essential needs (Temporary Lodging, Food and Fuel) may be provided up to $600 (Single Member) or $1,000 (Per Family) as a Grant to eligible members who have been impacted by Tropical Storm Beryl.
b. This guidance will remain in effect until 15 July 2024.

Please see additional information in the attached document, if you have additional questions contact the AFAS Emergency Assistance Department at 703-972-2604 or Toll-Free at 877-246-7650, Option #1 should you have any questions applying through the Application Portal.
This information is also visible on AFFIRST in the Download Center M&FRC Programs / Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) / Air Force Aid/Crisis Support

07/02/2024

More showers added! Keep your eye out for more coming soon, too!

Thank you for understanding that we wish nothing more than to be able to celebrate every military mom and that our criteria is in place to help us manage the number of submissions we receive.

Please read the following criteria

- Be able to attend the shower you are signing up for in person

- Must be military mom pregnant or have newborn no older than 3 months old on shower day, to include families having babies via surrogacy or adoption.

- 1st priority: Have a spouse or partner who is deployed or deploying (or other official duty separation) at some point during their pregnancy

- 2nd priority: Active & state side duty (E-6 or below)- You have not been showered by Operation Shower in the last 3 years

- See form for any additional criteria

Note that filling out the form is not a guarantee of attendance but every effort will be made to include those who sign up. You will be contacted by an Operation Shower team member via email in the coming weeks. We will be in touch with those who registers as soon as we can!

FORM: https://forms.gle/MbNtgEpFenzxWi4o8

Link also in IG bio

06/18/2024

Join us, the Military and Family Readiness Center and the team on August 20, 2024, at the Whiteman Air Force Base Career Exploration and Hiring Fair where you will have the opportunity to meet, network, and interview with regional and national employers at this professional development and hiring event. All veterans, service members, military spouses, and caregivers are invited to attend! Follow this link to register:

https://app.brazenconnect.com/a/hiring_our_heroes/e/p7VNz?utm_source=whiteman&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=specialevent-inperson-jobseeker&

This will be a great event for all (Active Duty, Military Spouses/Family Members, Retirees, DoD Civilian, and Guard/Reserve) who attend.

https://www.hiringourheroes.org/

Hiring Our Heroes connects the military community—service members, military spouses, and veterans—with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce.

06/17/2024

Whether you are struggling with PTSD or you are watching someone else fight this battle, you are not powerless. With the right knowledge and tools, you can find hope.

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a Mental Disorder that is caused by experiencing a traumatic event. When defining PTSD for disability purposes, a “traumatic event” is any event where the person experiences “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence” (DSM-5). Traumatic events can include actual or threatened abuse, death, physical injury, sexual abuse/violence, accidents, situations that cause extreme fear, and many more.
There are very specific requirements that must be met in order for PTSD to be officially diagnosed. It is important to note that if a condition does not qualify to be diagnosed as PTSD, it can still be diagnosed as an Adjustment Disorder or other mental disorder and still qualify for military disability as long as the root cause is related to your military service.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Like many mental disorders, the exact symptoms of PTSD can vary greatly from one person to the next.
Symptoms can include fear, the inability to concentrate, depression, anti-social behaviors, violent outbursts, anger, nightmares, insomnia, and many more.
These symptoms can be constant, worsen over time, improve over time, or can come and go. Similarly, some symptoms may show up immediately following the traumatic event, while others may take months or years to develop.
Depending on the severity, PTSD can have a huge effect on the ability of an individual to function in normal life.

What help is available for PTSD?
Whether your PTSD has been diagnosed yet or not, the VA offers many resources to assist Veterans with their mental health, including 3 free mental health visits every year (new!). You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or VA health care to access these mental health resources.
Here is a list of resources that provide essential opportunities for Veterans and their loved ones.

VA’s National Center for PTSD. Offers educational services, forums, support groups, benefits, treatment, immediate help, and more: Whether you are struggling with PTSD or you are watching someone else fight this battle, you are not powerless. With the right knowledge and tools, you can find hope.

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a Mental Disorder that is caused by experiencing a traumatic event. When defining PTSD for disability purposes, a “traumatic event” is any event where the person experiences “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence” (DSM-5). Traumatic events can include actual or threatened abuse, death, physical injury, sexual abuse/violence, accidents, situations that cause extreme fear, and many more.
There are very specific requirements that must be met in order for PTSD to be officially diagnosed. We discuss these requirements in detail here, but it is important to note that if a condition does not qualify to be diagnosed as PTSD, it can still be diagnosed as an Adjustment Disorder or other mental disorder and still qualify for military disability as long as the root cause is related to your military service.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Like many mental disorders, the exact symptoms of PTSD can vary greatly from one person to the next.
Symptoms can include fear, the inability to concentrate, depression, anti-social behaviors, violent outbursts, anger, nightmares, insomnia, and many more.
These symptoms can be constant, worsen over time, improve over time, or can come and go. Similarly, some symptoms may show up immediately following the traumatic event, while others may take months or years to develop.
Depending on the severity, PTSD can have a huge effect on the ability of an individual to function in normal life.


What help is available for PTSD?
Whether your PTSD has been diagnosed yet or not, the VA offers many resources to assist Veterans with their mental health, including 3 free mental health visits every year (new!). You do not have to be enrolled in VA benefits or VA health care to access these mental health resources.
Here is a list of resources that provide essential opportunities for Veterans and their loved ones.

VA’s National Center for PTSD. Offers educational services, forums, support groups, benefits, treatment, immediate help, and more:

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.